Wesley Corpus

Again, The fulness of time is come when they who are willing, receive the Adoption, as Paul teaches in these words, Ye have not received the Spirit of Bondage again unto Fear; but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!“ And it is written in the gospel according to St. John, & To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe in his name.“ Vol. I. p. 231, 232. Yet again, Every one that is born of God, and doth not commit fin, by his very actions faith, Our Father which art in heaven, the Spirit itself bearin witness with their Spirit, that they are the Children o God.“ - Ibid. f | According to Origen therefore, this testimony of the Spirit, is not any publick testimony by miracles, pecular to the first times, but an inward testimony, belonging in common to all that are born of God. And consequently the authority of Origen does not confirm that interpretation neither; but absolutely destroy it. . 18. The last authority your Lordship appeals to. on this text is, That of the great John Chrysostom, who reckons the testimony of the Spirit of Adoption by which we cry Abba, Father! among the miraculous gifts of the Spirit.” “I rather chuse (your Lordship adds, p. 26.) to refer you to the words of St. Chrysostom, than to transcribe them here, as having almost translated them in the present account of the testimony of the Spirit.“ | : However, I believe it will not be labour lost, to transcribe a few of those words, | It is in his comment on the 14th verse, that he first mentions, St, Paul's comparison between a Jew and a Christian, How fairly your Lordship has represented this, let every Reader judge, _ | « As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.”'----* Whereas the same title had been given of old to the Jews alfo,--- he shews in the sequel, how great a difference there is, between that honour and this. For though, says he, the titles are the same, yet the things are not, And he plainly proves it, by comparing both what they had received, and 2 Te Men of Reason and Religion. 109